Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 51:2
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, etc.] Which supposes defilement by sin, and that very great, and such as none can remove but the Lord himself; who, when he takes it in hand, does it effectually and thoroughly; (see <263625>Ezekiel 36:25). David’s sin had long lain upon him, the faith of it had as it were eaten into him, and spread itself over him, and therefore he needed much washing: “wash me much”, all over, and thoroughly: and cleanse me from my sin: which only the blood of Christ can do, (<620107>1 John 1:7). The psalmist makes use of three words to express his sin by, in this verse (<195101>Psalm 51:1); [çp, which signifies “rebellion”, as all sin has in it rebellion against God the lawgiver, and a contempt of his commandments; ˆw[, “perverseness”, “crookedness”, sin being a going out of the plain way of God’s righteous law; and tajj, “a missing the mark”; going besides it or not coming up to it: and these he makes rise of to set forth the malignity of sin, and the deep sense he had of the exceeding sinfulness of it; and these are the three words used by the Lord in (<023407>Exodus 34:7); when he declares himself to be a sin forgiving God; so that David’s sin came within the reach of pardoning mercy.
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